Reframing Raw Materials: A Techno-Typological Overview of Bangladesh’s Fossil Wood Lithic Tradition

Apon Das

The geographical landscape of Bangladesh provides a critical vantage point for examining early human migration and adaptation across the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. As a resource-rich corridor, the Bengal Basin likely sustained diverse subsistence strategies, from hunter-gatherer mobility to incipient agriculture. The discovery of pre-neolithic and neolithic stone tools of Bangladesh is made almost entirely of fossil wood, primarily situated within the Pleistocene terraces of the Lalmai-Mainamati region in the Comilla district, Chaklapunji in the Habiganj district, Chagalnaiya in the Feni district, Sitakunda Hill Tracts in the Chittagong district, and Wari-Bateshwar in the Narsingdi district. Fossil or petrified wood is a type of stone formed by silica replacing organic wood matter over thousands of years. It is primarily found in the Barind tract, Madhupur tract, Kaptai Lake, and Dupi Tila sediments of the Lalmai-Mainamati areas, reflecting a specialized adaptation to local lithic resources in the deep past of this region. Techno-typological analysis reveals a diverse assemblage ranging from Upper Palaeolithic flake tools, including handaxes, handadzes, scrapers, blades, points, burins, and borers, to Neolithic polished and unpolished celts. Sophisticated manufacturing techniques, such as controlled flaking and grinding executed obliquely to the wood's grain, highlight the cognitive flexibility required to manage the material’s inherent properties. Comparative data suggests strong technological affinities with Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Valley and the Haora-Khowai Valleys of Tripura, India. These links underscore the existence of a regional cultural tradition, positioning the Bengal Basin as an important crossroad between South and Southeast Asia.